Eastern Iowa mother says AirCare helped save son's life

After 33 years, AirCare helicopters have transported more than 20,000 patients

Photos

Trevor Abernathy of Belle Plaine, holds a piece of rebar on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Belle Plaine, that impaled him during a construction accident in January 2012. (Matt Nelson/The Gazette - KCRG-TV9)

Staff members of the UI AirCare program don’t like to take credit for “saving lives.”

“I have people ask me how many lives you've saved, and I tell them I haven’t saved any lives,” said flight nurse Rick Ogren. “But the system has saved thousands of lives.”

The AirCare program launched in 1979, becoming one of the first 15 such programs in the nation. In its 33 year history, AirCare helicopters have transported more than 20,000 patients over three million miles.

Hartman is employed by Air Methods, the company that leases the University its two AirCare helicopters and a handful of pilots.

Other regional medical helicopters also frequent the UIHC helipad, which sees an estimated 2,000 flights a year.

“On a summer day you can have 15 to 20 aircraft in a period of 12 hours (on the pad), so it’s very busy,” said AirCare flight paramedic Toby Hancock. “I’m proud to be a piece of the puzzle, really am.”

Roberta Abernathy is also happy Hancock and others are part of the program, which she says employs a "fantastic staff."

Trevor is now recovering from his injuries at his Belle Plaine home. He said he sometimes struggles with reading and speech, but "is quickly getting back to normal."

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